The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has gazetted the official changes to the salary tables for teachers in South Africa for 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The DBE said that the salary scales up to 31 March 2025 will be adjusted by 4%, with effect from 1 April 2026, for all employees under the Employment of Educators Act (EEA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In South Africa, teacher salaries are organised into specific bands and “notches” that correspond to experience levels and job positions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lowest bands are designated for newly qualified, entry-level teachers. As teachers gain more experience and assume additional responsibilities, their salaries increase within the bands and notches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The upper bands represent the higher tiers of teaching and school management, typically reflecting the levels of principals or department heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Salaries are divided into 432 “notches,” as determined by the DBE, and vary by Relative Education Qualification Value (REQV) level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
These standardised levels reflect the education and qualifications of teachers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
REQV levels 10 to 12 represent teachers with a matriculation certificate and some relevant training, while REQV 13 and above indicate those with diplomas and degrees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lowest notch (001) reflects the lowest salary a teacher in South Africa can earn. This was R154,671 per annum from 1 April 2024, which increased to R163,179 per annum from 1 April 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The newly gazetted salary for notch 001 is R169,707 per year<\/strong>, which comes to around R14,142 per month.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The upper end of the range, notch 432, reflects the highest salary in the sector, totalling R1,209,279 in 2024, R1,275,789 in 2025 and now R1,326,822 in 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The newly gazetted R1,326,822 for 2026 amounts to a salary of R110,569 per month.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It is important to note that teachers receive additional benefits such as pension contributions, medical aid subsidies, housing allowances, and bonuses, which may increase their overall compensation packages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to parliamentary data disclosed by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube in response to a question from Build One South Africa (Bosa), South Africa has lost over 32,000 teachers in the past five years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This averages to more than 6,000 educators leaving the teaching industry each year. Of these departures, 30,992 were resignations attributed to overwhelming workload pressures, career changes, and emigration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Additionally, this report revealed that 1,245 educators were dismissed under the Employment of Educators Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bosa pointed out that more than 50% of South Africa’s primary school learners are now taught in overcrowded classes with more than 40 students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the department’s own national recruitment database lists at least 12,700 qualified, unemployed educators actively seeking work while classrooms remain understaffed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This data aligns with findings from the Teacher Preferences and Job Satisfaction in South Africa report by the Research on Socio-Economic Policy unit (Resep) at Stellenbosch University. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The report revealed that nearly half of all in-service teachers in the public system are considering leaving within the next decade. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The primary factors driving this potential mass exodus include overwork, underpayment, administrative paperwork, high stress, emotional burnout, and a lack of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The full salary table for teachers can be found below:<\/p>\n\n\n\nGeneral Classroom Teacher Pay 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Role<\/strong><\/td> Notches<\/strong><\/td> Min Salary<\/strong>
2025<\/strong><\/td>Max Salary<\/strong>
2025<\/strong><\/td>Min Salary 2026<\/strong><\/td> Max Salary 2026<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Teacher REQV 10-12<\/td> 1-106<\/td> R163,179<\/td> R268,008<\/td> R 169,707<\/strong><\/td> R278,727<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Teacher REQV 10-12<\/td> 108-268<\/td> R270,498<\/td> R577,407<\/td> R281,319<\/strong><\/td> R600,504<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Senior Teacher REQV 13<\/td> 200-268<\/td> R415,038<\/td> R577,407<\/td> R431,640<\/strong><\/td> R600,504<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Master Teacher REQV 13<\/td> 232-268<\/td> R485,868<\/td> R577,407<\/td> R505,302<\/strong><\/td> R600,504<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Teacher REQV 14-17<\/td> 164-326<\/td> R351,972<\/td> R763,608<\/td> R366,051<\/strong><\/td> R794,151<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Senior Teacher REQV 14-17<\/td> 200-326<\/td> R415,038<\/td> R763,608<\/td> R431,640<\/strong><\/td> R794,151<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Master Teacher REQV 14-17<\/td> 232-326<\/td> R485,868<\/td> R763,608<\/td> R505,302<\/strong><\/td> R794,151<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n School Management Pay 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Role<\/strong><\/td> Notches<\/strong><\/td> Min Salary<\/strong>
2025<\/strong><\/td>Max Salary<\/strong>
2025<\/strong><\/td>Min Salary 2026<\/strong><\/td> Max Salary 2026<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Departmental Head<\/td> 210-392<\/td> R435,240<\/td> R1,052,718<\/td> R452,649<\/strong><\/td> R1,094,826<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Deputy Principal<\/td> 244-408<\/td> R514,563<\/td> R1,138,056<\/td> R535 146<\/strong><\/td> R1,183,578<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Principal P5 (highest P level)<\/td> 350-432<\/td> R858,426<\/td> R1,275,789<\/td> R892,764<\/strong><\/td> R1,326,822<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n South Africa’s educator crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n